Government promises to restore services in Mandera

FROM LEFT: Defence PS Mutea Iringo, Mandera County Commisssioner Alex ole Nkoyo and Governor Ali Roba in Mandera, Thursday. [PHOTO: LYDIAH NYAWIRA/STANDARD]

MANDERA COUNTY: Several principal secretaries have visited Mandera County to asses the situation after several civil servants left their posts in the wake of Al-Shabaab attacks.

The PSs who met Governor Ali Roba over the looming service delivery crisis in the county include Monica Juma (Interior), Mutea Iringo (Defence), Belio Kipsang (Education), Nduva Muli (Transport) and the Director for Medical Services Nicholas Muraguri.

Speaking during the meeting also attended by the county security team, Dr Kipsang said the ministry had resolved not to approve transfers of teachers seeking to relocate from the area on security grounds.

“We will not approve the transfers of 150 teachers who have so far requested to relocate following the recent terrorist attacks,”Kipsang said.

He assured teachers of their safety, saying various emergency measures will be put in place ahead of reopening of schools in January.

“We are not abandoning Mandera County in its hour of need; we are here to give you all the support you need,” Kipsang explained.

Dr Muraguri, on the other hand, said the Ministry Health is set to reopen the 20 health facilities that were closed down after over 50 health workers fled the area.

REOPEN HOSPITALS

“The Health ministry will support the county to stabilise the health sector following this unfortunate terror events and will work to reopen the closed health facilities that have been shut down as soon as possible,” Muraguri said.

For her part, Ms Juma reiterated the need for the representatives from the various ministries at the meeting to commit themselves to efforts to revive the necessary Government services that have been adversely affected by the attacks.

“We are here to support the county to the end,” she said.

Mr Roba thanked the Government for its swift response to the security crisis in the area, which he said had helped restore normalcy in the region.

“The support from the national government has been crucial ensuring basic services available to the residents. We will work to ensure that provision of these services is not disrupted,” Roba said.

The visit comes in the wake of a four-day county stakeholders’ meeting.

Following the deadly Mandera attacks where over 60 people left their lives, the Kenya National Union of Teachers instructed its members working in North Eastern and other unsafe areas to relocate to their homes.

The Kenya National Union of Nurses also demanded that their members be evacuated. The unions have, however, been criticised over the calls.